λ James Warren Childe (1778-1862) The Actor Mr. William Don (1825-1862) in uniform

λ James Warren Childe (1778-1862)

The Actor Mr. William Don (1825-1862) in uniform, later Sir William Don, 7th Baronet

Inscribed under mount

160 x 110mm

William Don was a close friend of Sir Walter Scott. He was in the 5th Dragoon Guards in 1842, left the army in 1845 with heavy debts and the family estate of Newtondon, Berwickshire had to be sold. He became an actor, touring the North of England and starring in New York and spending 5 years in America. Still in debt on his return to the UK he tried his hand as a comedian then left in 1861 for Australia where he took to playing female characters in burlesques. After a successful career on stage in Australia and Tasmania, he died in Hobart.